Crime Facts

Rainstorm kills three, destroys church buildings, electric poles in Imo

AT least, three persons lost their lives on Friday after rainstorm wreaked havoc on Obinze, Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State. This was even as no fewer than 35 electric poles, two church buildings and a brewery depot were destroyed by the dangerous wind. A village source told our correspondent that the incident which happened along the Obinze-Umuokanne road left no fewer than 12 persons wounded. The source said, “The raging wind dismantled no less than 35 electric poles along the Umuokanne-Obinze road. It also claimed three lives and destroyed two church buildings and a brewery depot. “Another building that collapsed is a beer depot belonging to a businessman in the area. We have not seen this kind of havoc before. This is very unfortunate and the losses are huge.” One of the churches destroyed by the rainstorm was identified as Beyond Principalities and Powers Ministry. A resident of the area, Chigozie Nwosu, who spoke to our correspondent, said the destruction caused by the strong wind had frightened the people in the area. When contacted, the police spokesperson, Orlando Ikeokwu, confirmed that only one death was reported to the police. Credit: The Punch

Dambazau: OPC, IPOB Are Just Like Boko Haram

The immediate past Minister of Interior, Lt.-Gen. Abdul-Rahman Dambazau (rtd), on Friday said the O’odua People’s Congress (OPC) and the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) are extremist groups like Boko Haram. Dambazau said this at Army War College in Abuja while delivering a lecture to participants of course 5/2021. He alleged that the two groups were sponsoring a new wave of extremism that could ignite ethnic conflict so as to achieve their aims of dividing the country. Dambazau said the Police have a critical role to play in quelling recent agitations across the country, “instead of leaving everything for the military”. “The two groups have been making efforts to ignite nationwide inter-ethnic conflicts through their violent attacks on northern residents or transacting businesses in the south as a quick way to realise their dream for a divided Nigeria. “We see parallels between Boko Haram and the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) both ethnic extremist groups. All the three groups operate on the platform of extremism,” Dambazau said. Speaking earlier, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, directed all Nigerian Army training institutions to build appropriate capacities and competencies in order to make the army a formidable force that can tackle all security threats. He said the college was conceptualised to bridge the training gaps in the area of strategic and tactics among officers of Nigerian Army. “In this regard, I have directed that all Nigerian Army training institutions should build appropriate capacities and competencies that will make the Nigerian army a formidable force. “As you are all aware, our nation has been grappling with a myriad of security challenges which includes insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and other forms of criminality across all the states of the federation. “As daunting as these challenges may be, I strongly believe that they present opportunities for leadership, especially at the operational levels which you currently belong to. “Therefore, I challenge you to make good use of your time at the college and imbibe knowledge to open your mind to new ideas that enhance the defence and security of our nation.” The Commandant, Army War College Nigeria, Maj.-Gen. Solomon Udounwa, said the course had 62 participants from the armed forces, other security agencies with three from allied countries of Togo, Liberia and Congo.

Anti-Buhari protesters ‘secretly arraigned’ in Kogi magistrate’s office, remanded in prison

Anene Victor and Emmanuel Larry, two men who were arrested for protesting against President Muhammadu Buhari in Kogi, have been secretly arraigned before a magistrate court in Lokoja, the state capital. In a viral video on Monday, the duo, who were holding “Buhari must go” posters, were seen being flogged by youths for their demonstration. Benjamin Omeiza, lawyer to the two men, who spoke with TheCable on Friday, said his clients were arraigned on Tuesday at the magistrate court 1, Lokoja (popularly called Lugard court), on charges bordering on treasonable felony and inciting public unrest. Omeiza said the magistrate had signed a remand order in his office owing to the nationwide strike by the Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN). “One of the police officers at the A Division reliably informed me that they were taken and arraigned before a magistrate in his office who signed a remand warrant,” he said. “At a time when the judiciary is on strike, a magistrate is entertaining a case he has no jurisdiction over and then remanding suspects over a bailable allegation.” Aggrieved, the lawyer said he tried to get in contact with the Kogi state commissioner of police, but was later directed to see the officer in charge of the legal department at the command headquarters. “I registered my grievances before her and she confirmed that they were remanded on Tuesday,” the lawyer said. “When I asked of the name of the magistrate before whom my clients were arraigned, she said she didn’t have that information for me. “I asked for the next adjourned date and the case file of my clients, but she said she didn’t have that information and that if I need them, I should go to the correctional centre and ask my clients. “On Thursday, some group of activists went to the correctional facility and confirmed that the accused persons were in detention.” He said his clients also confirmed to them that they were arraigned in the office of a magistrate. He added that Femi Falana, human rights lawyer to whom he had submitted his report, also confirmed from the police commissioner that the two men are in prison custody.

Nigeria In Dire Need Of Leadership To Avert Looming Disaster – PDP Governors

Nigeria is in dire need of leadership at the Federal level to avert an impending disaster, the governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have said. This formed part of the resolutions of the governors on Friday when they met in Makurdi, the Benue State capital to review the state of affairs in the country, including the security challenges among others. They decried that if the present situation in the country was allowed to linger, Nigeria could slip into a failed state under the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration. The governors, who described the present administration as one that lacked the capacity to govern, lamented that their fault lines and differences had been stretched to the limit. According to them, this has triggered a rise in ethnic and tribal tensions, religious divisions, and other forms of social and political cleavages in the country. The leaders also agreed that the security of lives and property of the people were no longer guaranteed – a situation which they blamed on leadership incompetence and mismanagement of the nation’s affairs. They acknowledged that governors have a role to play in tackling the nation’s security challenges, but accused the APC of monopolising the country’s coercive authority. The governors, among other demands, asked the Federal Government to take advantage of the ongoing constitution amendment process to decentralise the nation’s security architecture and involve the government at the state and local levels. They also stressed the need for an urgent devolution of powers and restructuring of the country to bring various groups together, saying Nigeria cannot afford another civil war. Governors present at the meeting included Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom), Douye Diri (Bayelsa), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), and Nyesom Wike (Rivers). Others are Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Darius Ishaku (Taraba), Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa), Godwin Obaseki (Edo), and Bello Mattawale (Zamfara), as well as the Deputy Governor of Bauchi State, Baba Tela. Read the communique of the PDP Governors’ Forum issued at the end of the meeting below: Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, met in Makurdi, Benue State on 9th April 2021, under the aegis of the Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum, PDP–GF, to review the state of affairs in the country and common developments in their states and issued the following Communique at the end of their meeting; The meeting noted and condemned the alarming drift of Nigeria which if allowed to continue, will make Nigeria a failed state under the watch of the All Progressives Congress, APC, government. They expressed deep concern and alarm at the deteriorating relations between various groups in Nigeria. The Governors were deeply worried that indeed, all our fault lines and differences are being stretched to the limit by a government that clearly lacks the capacity to govern. The meeting agreed that this has given rise to ethnic and tribal tensions, religious divisions, and various forms of social and political cleavages. The Governors concluded that Nigeria is in dire need of leadership at the Federal level to avert the looming disaster. The meeting was similarly alarmed that the security of lives and property of Nigerians are no longer guaranteed under the present government as a result of leadership incompetence and mismanagement of the nation’s affairs. While noting that Governors have a role to play in the handling of some of the worsening situations, they regret their hands are tied behind their backs as the entire coercive authority in the country is monopolised by the APC federal government. The time has come to take advantage of the ongoing Constitution Amendment process to decentralise the security architecture of Nigeria and involve States and Local Governments. Consequently, the Governors reaffirmed their conviction that an urgent devolution of powers and restructuring of the country in a way that brings together various groups and tendencies in the country appears to have become imperative and timely now as Nigeria cannot afford another civil war. We call on the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission to send a new Revenue Allocation Formular that allocates more resources to States and Local Governments to Mr President for National Assembly’s action. It is a scandal that 21 years after the 1999 Constitution came into being, no new Revenue Formular is in place. Furthermore, the meeting called for a more transparent and accountable running and operation of the NNPC. The meeting further condemned the intimidation of sitting Governors by the APC administration using all sorts of weapons like security agencies, unequal access to federal resources, promotion of divisions in the opposition political parties with fake promises and falsehoods. We significantly condemn the double standards that are applied by the APC-led federal government to intimidate PDP controlled states. To this end, we call on Mr President to lift the so-called “No flight Zone” and other intimidating tactics, imposed on Zamfara State as similar measures have not been extended to similar states with security challenges like Kaduna, Borno, Katsina, Yobe and others. This is mostly politically motivated to ensure that the Governors move over to APC. The meeting noted that the APC has been unable to even have a democratically-elected National Executive Committee as required by the Nigerian Constitution. A Political Party that operates by military fiat with an appointed and unelected Executive Committee at ALL LEVELS from WARD to NATIONAL has no business running the affairs of our country. APC cannot deliver democracy to Nigeria; even to constitute a Board of Trustees has been an impossible task for the party since its inception. It further expressed surprise that the APC is interested in playing politics and jockeying for power in 2023 when they have done an abysmal and terribly poor job of their current questionable mandate. The Governors were distressed that Nigeria is now officially the country with the highest unemployment rate in the world at 33% under the disastrous leadership of APC. This is following on the heels of yet another feat of

No massacre in Benue – DHQ

The Defence Headquarters has dismissed report of an alleged massacre by the military in Konshisha area of Benue, following the killing of 11 troops by bandits. The Acting Director, Defence Information, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, in a statement on Friday in Abuja, described the report as spurious and misleading. Nwachukwu explained that there had been incessant cases of communal clashes in recent times among the people of Konshisha and Oju on boundary demarcation. He said that as part of efforts to resolve the crisis, the Benue government held meetings with stakeholders in local governments with a view to providing solution to the problem. According to him, appreciable progress has been made and a final date fixed for all stakeholders to meet in the disputed areas to demarcate the boundary. “Trouble started on the eve of the final meeting during Easter holiday with reports that fresh fighting has broken out in the area. “All along, 72 Special Forces Battalion has troops deployed on the Oju side of the boundary and troops of the battalion were on their way to replenish their colleagues on April 5, when they were attacked by bandits attend Bonta in Konshisha. “The troops who were under command of a captain were seized at a checkpoint mounted by the so called Bonta Boys and taken into Konshisha forest where they were all brutally murdered. “Not satisfied with killing the soldiers, the bandits proceeded to burn all the eleven soldiers and their officer beyond recognition while their weapons and ammunition were carted away,” he said. The defence spokesperson disclosed that military reinforcements that were dispatched to Bonta the following morning also came under attack from close to 500 armed youths who had fully occupied Bonta at the time. He said that the number of youths involved in the attacks suggested that the bandits could not be from Bonta alone, but were joined by bandits from other parts of Konshisha. He said that the troops repelled the attack after more than four hours of intense fighting during which military helicopter provided close air support to ground troops. According to him, 10 bandits are killed during the fight with the rifle of one of the Killed in action soldiers recovered from the bandits who fell casualty during the exchange of fire. He said that there were no other civilian casualties in any part of Konshisha till date, apart from the initial 10 bandits eliminated by the troops. Nwachukwu however, challenged anybody from Konshisha to present to the public the bodies of innocent persons, male, female or children allegedly killed by troops in the area. According to him, there was never a massacre as being touted by some mischief makers. Nwachukwu also stated that bandits that escaped from Bonta withdrew into neighbouring villages where they kept on attacking troops as they continued with the search operation through Bonta into other parts of Konshisha. According to him, knowing the implications of killing troops in cold blood, most of the villagers have fled their homes which are occupied by armed bandits who are firing at troops from the settlements as they advanced into Konshisha. He said that troops repelled the attacks and destroyed the houses and other buildings which the criminals used as hideouts for the attacks. “The use of abandoned settlements by armed bandits to attack troops is popular with insurgents. “The aim is to draw military fire into the dwellings and then turn round to blame soldiers for the destruction. “This is common guerilla tactics armed bandit designed to whip up public sentiment against security forces and this is what played out in Konshisha. “This accounts for some of the burnt houses being reported in the press,” he said. Nwachukwu further noted that some of the phones of the dead soldiers were also tracked to some of the settlements, saying that bandits should be blamed for the destruction since they used these settlements as hideout for attacks. He said it would be wrong to blame soldiers who were in Konshisha on legitimate duties when some of them were killed. He added that some of the buildings being paraded were actually burnt during earlier communal clashes between Konshisha and Oju. The spokesperson said that the soldiers deployed to Konshisha displayed commendable restraints by adhering to the rules of engagement in the face of unprovoked attacks. He said that military would ensure that the local leaders of Konshisha must bring the main actors responsible for the mayhem to security forces to face justice in addition to the return of all carted away weapons and all other weapons in their possession. “The military will not tolerate the jungle justice attitude and dastardly acts leading to the gruesome murder of patriotic soldiers on legitimate duty to keep the peace. “We look forward to working with the Benue government in its promise to support security forces in fishing out those fomenting trouble in Konshisha. “Once again, there is no massacre in Konshisha and the stories making the rounds are fabricated by bandits and their sponsors to smear the military after killing troops,” he said.(NAN)

Minister: Why Buhari didn’t consult police council before appointing new IGP

Muhammad Dingyadi, minister of police affairs, says President Muhammadu Buhari did nothing wrong by not consulting the police service council before appointing Usman Alkali Baba as the new inspector-general police (IGP). On Tuesday, Buhari appointed Baba as the new IGP to replace Mohammed Adamu with immediate effect. One of the issues that trailed the appointment of the new IGP was that the president did not consult the police council as contained in the Nigeria Police Act 2020, and sections 214, 215, and 216 of the 1999 constitution (as amended). Mike Ozekhome, a human rights lawyer, had argued that the appointment of Baba was unconstitutional, noting that the president cannot singlehandedly appoint the IGP without consulting the police council. Speaking on Friday, when he featured on Politics Today, a programme on Channels Television, the police minister said Baba is serving in acting capacity, adding that the president is making arrangements to consult the police council, when he returns from the United Kingdom. “Mr president, by law, has been asked, while appointing the inspector-general of police to consult the police council. Mr president has not yet consulted the police council and that is why you have seen that the person he is appointing now is on acting capacity,” he said. “So, he’s making arrangements now to consult the police council, and as you are aware, Mr president is not in the country at this material time. “As soon as he comes back, he will set the machinery in motion to do the necessary processes provided by the law to consult the police council in this direction.” Asked what will happen if the police council rejects the appointment, Dingyadi noted that such has not happened before, but said the president must have done his homework before announcing Baba as the IGP. “I’m not sure, but this kind of thing has never happened, because before the president takes decision on an acting appointment, he must have made his own homework,” he said. “What the police council will be after is ensuring that the right person is brought on board — somebody who is capable; somebody who is a professional; somebody who is qualified and experienced. “And I want to believe that the governors who are members of this council have all the confidence in Mr president and they know the kind of person he is. I think Mr president should be able to convince members of the police council in this decision that he has taken at this material time.

300-level LASU student kidnapped

A 300-level student of Lagos State University, Olowa Kehinde, 24, has been kidnapped by unknown gunmen on Friday. The PUNCH gathered that the incident happened when Kehinde and his younger brother, Segun, and three others were returning to Lagos from Warri. It was also learnt that they were attacked by gunmen along the Benin-Ore Expressway about 5:45 a.m. “They shot at the car, at the front seat where I was seating. Everyone but Kehinde managed to escape from the assailants,” Segun added. Segun said that the abductors have called to demand a N10 million ransom. Segun’s friend, Mosunmola, told our correspondent that the incident had been reported to the police station in Benin. “But the response from the police was unfavourable,” she added. On her Twitter handle, @CutestPristine, Mosunmola asked for donations from the public, adding that “all they did was to go earn an honest living. Please help bring Kenny back home.

“Where Are The Dead Bodies?’ – Soldier, Ortom Dismiss Claim That 70 Persons Were Killed In Benue

A soldier has refuted the claim that the military killed over 70 innocent persons in Benue State. At a press conference on Friday, the people of Mbator in Shangev-Tiev of Konshisha Local Government Area of Benue State, said while more than 70 innocent persons were killed, 100 got missing during aerial and ground bombardments by troops. The villagers appealed to the Federal Government to order the military to halt the killings, saying they are planning to storm more villages. Daily Trust had reported how the military invaded the communities after 11 soldiers were killed in an ambush. Contacted to comment on the villagers’ allegation, Major General Adeyemi Yekini, Force Commander of Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), referred our correspondent to the Media unit of the Defence Headquarters in Abuja. But a soldier, who pleaded anonymity, dismissed the claim of the villagers, challenging them to substantiate the claim. He told our correspondent that the soldiers killed belonged to the 72 battalion, Special Forces of the Nigerian Army. The soldier said apart from 12 militia “neutralised on Wednesday”, no one else has been killed”. He said rifles of the deceased soldiers were recovered from the suspects who were shot dead. “Those claiming that 70 persons were killed by the soldiers should prove it with the dead bodies or show us the graves where they were buried. Where are the dead bodies.” Governor Samuel Ortom has asked the villagers who seized the weapons of the military to return them. Ortom Dismisses Claim Soldiers Killed 70 In Benue Benue governor Samuel Ortom has dismissed claims by Shangev-Tiev Assembly that over 70 persons have been killed in Konshisha Local Government Area of the state. Ortom also said that three of the weapons seized from the military by armed militia in Konshisha has been recovered. The governor made the remark while addressing journalists at the Government House in Makurdi on Friday over the development in Konshisha area. He explained that eight persons including two bandits who had exchanged fire with the soldiers were caught and killed, a handicapped man died after his destroyed house collapsed on him, and a middle-aged woman fell while running and died amongst four others. “That is the report I got from the chairman. So, I’m taken aback to hear that an unknown group held a press conference and said 70 people were killed. “I wish to call on the people to restrain themselves from making unguarded and unverified statement. This will not help matter. You will only succeed in aggravating the matter. You will only succeed in pouring petrol on an existing fire and you know the implications. “The security men you know especially the soldiers of if they were not here, we will not be here today. Herdsmen, local bandits would have consumed us,” he said. Ortom however appealed to the military for restraint in the ongoing effort to recover their weapons so as to prevent the loss of more innocent lives in the affected communities, adding that a report from the Konshisha Council Chairman indicated that there was no operation on Friday. The governor disclosed that out of the weapons seized from the military by youths of the area, three had been recovered while he had directed the Local Government Chairman, traditional rulers and other stakeholders to see that the remaining arms are recovered. Ortom further stressed that eight people, including militia members were killed during the military operation and appealed to those fuelling the crisis in the media to desist from the act and support the government to find lasting peace in the area. Answering questions from journalists, Ortom said the deployment of soldiers to the warring communities of Konshisha and Oju was in compliance with President Muhammadu Buhari’s order to security agencies to shoot on sight, anyone in possession of illegal weapons. The governor further sympathised with victims of the crisis and assured the people that his administration will ensure that no more lives are lost just as he assured that the Benue State Government will ensure the demarcation of the boundary between Bonta community of Konshisha and Okpute in Oju to put the dispute to rest. Ortom maintained, “I’m on top of the situation and monitoring it. I have not slept for the past three days ensuring several interventions. So, we do not want any situation that will amplify the one we already have. If anyone has any evidence contrary to what the chairman told me, he should bring it out instead of making inflammatory statements.”

PHOTO: FG releases names of inmates who escaped from Imo prison

The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS) has released the names and pictures of some inmates who escaped from the Owerri Custodial Centre, Imo state. The names and pictures of the inmates are being released in batches by the NCS. So far, 36 of the escaped inmates have been unveiled. More than 1,000 inmates escaped from custody on Monday, after gunmen attacked the Imo correctional centre in Owerri. During the attack, vehicles and part of some buildings within the premises were razed. The gunmen also attacked the Imo police command headquarters. While no life was lost during the attack, the NCS had said a total of 1,884 persons escaped from custody. However, as of Thursday, 78 of the escaped persons were said to have been found. During a visit to the facility in Owerri, Rauf Aregbesola, minister of interior, had said inmates who returned voluntary will not face sanctions for escaping from custody, but added that those who decided otherwise would be prosecuted. Hope Uzodimma, governor of Imo, had condemned the attack and promised improved security around similar facilities across the state. Below are faces of the inmates as shared on the NCS Twitter handle. Faces of persons who escaped from Owerri Custodial Centre, Imo State. Please note that more Photographs of the Escapees on the way and efforts are on to get clear pictures for the black spaces. pic.twitter.com/XmTc43CYFo — Nigerian Correctional Service (@CorrectionsNg) April 9, 2021

Police Deployed To Guard Hausa Settlement In Imo

Security operatives have been deployed in Ama Awusa, a settlement dominated by northerners in Owerri, Imo State capital. This is as a result of the widespread attacks on some northerners in the South-East. Security operatives have been deployed in Ama Awusa, a settlement dominated by northerners in Owerri, Imo State capital. This is as a result of the widespread attacks on some northerners in the South-East. Where are the dead bodies? soldier rejects claim that 70 persons were killed in Benue Tension in Benue community as 10 missing soldiers are found dead Last week, seven traders of northern extraction were murdered in Orlu town and Umuaka in Njaba Local Government Area of Imo. On Friday, Senior Special Assistant to Governor Hope Uzodimma on Gender and Vulnerable Persons (men), Sulaiman Ibrahim Sulaiman, told Daily Trust that adequate security had been provided to prevent further attacks. Sulaiman, who is also the Garkwa Hausa (Shield of Hausa community), said the people have been sensitised on the need to live in peace with their neighbours. He said the people are not contemplating to carry out reprisal, especially on the recent killing of seven traders as they have taken it as an act of God. “We have taken everything as the will of Allah. To Him we come and to Him we shall return. Some of us have been here for decades. Even our grandparents were here over 150 years ago. So we see yourselves as indigenes of the state and so there is no need to fight or create recriminations between us,” he said. Sulaiman advised those in the North threatening attack on Igbo interests in the North not to play into the hands of politicians who are not happy when there is peace in the country.